Heather Gallant, Executive Director Claire's Day
It is not every day that a person stumbles across a job perfectly suited for one’s background and interests. The moment I came across the job description for the Claire’s Day Executive Director position, I paused. In that moment, I saw myself in the position. I sensed the essence of the organization and the individuals who are its lifeblood. I promptly submitted my application materials, and was honored and humbled when the Board of Trustees invited me to join this organization in September.
My love of books and reading were nurtured from a very young age. My parents are both educators, and although mine were humble beginnings, I recall that there were always books waiting for my four siblings and me on our birthdays and on holidays. Summer days often started at our small town’s library, where we sifted through the endless aisles, collecting stacks of books too big for us to carry. Lazy summer afternoons were spent in our front yard laying under (or perched in!) a tree with a sweating cup of Kool-Aide in one hand, a well-loved book in the other. One of my first jobs was in that library, helping to craft their children’s summer reading program and stacking books up and down those familiar aisles.
My thirst for learning also led me to a new passion: the development of nonprofits working in the field of education. Locally, I’ve worked at Bowling Green State University, where I shaped a student community service program and engaged alumni and friends of BGSU. In Massachusetts, I served on the senior management team of Open Circle, a nationally recognized social and emotional learning program for elementary schools. I lived on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., where I developed a community disaster education program for a chapter of the American Red Cross and encouraged international teenagers to explore diplomacy and leadership at the Global Young Leaders Conference. Each of my life’s experiences has prepared me, in ways large and small, for the next chapter of my journey – the one that includes Claire’s Day – and I couldn’t be happier.
I deeply admire the Rubini family’s commitment to celebrating Claire Lynsey Rubini in such a beautiful and generous way. They continue to transform an unimaginable personal tragedy into a source of joy and pride for the Northwest Ohio community. Furthermore, the leaders, volunteers, partners, and supporters of Claire’s Day have inspired countless children to become lifelong readers, which truly gives them a leg-up in our knowledge-driven world.
Of course, we still have work to do. Together, we can reach struggling readers and provide them with an opportunity to enhance their love of literature and learning. Together, we will shepherd Claire’s Day into its next phase of growth. Together, we continue to celebrate life, love, literature, and the legacy of Claire Lynsey Rubini.
